This bill proposes updates to section 36-539 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding mental health services. The current law requires the presence of the patient and their attorney at hearings, allowing the attorney to subpoena and cross-examine witnesses. It mandates that evidence presented must include testimony from two or more witnesses acquainted with the patient at the time of the alleged mental disorder. The bill modifies this requirement by reducing the number of witnesses needed to at least one and clarifying that the witness must be someone who was acquainted with the patient, not a formal participant in the evaluation process.

Additionally, the bill introduces a provision allowing the court to waive the requirement for witness testimony if it finds that clear and convincing evidence from other sources meets the standard for issuing a court order for treatment. This change aims to streamline the process and potentially expedite hearings by relying on existing evidence rather than requiring witness testimony in every case. Other aspects of the current law, including the roles of evaluating physicians and the presentation of the patient's clinical record, remain unchanged.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-539